The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-06

aries. One reason why overland exploration
In the interior Of New Guinea Ia 30 exceed
ingly difficult lie because 80 many neighbor-
ing villages are at war with each other that
native porters cannot be obtained to travel
from one village to another.
The most interesting discovery the Cor
mans have made is the Empress Augusta
River, emptying into tho Pacific at Cape
Della Tore, which they have assembled by
steam for 800 miles in southwesterly dlrec-
ton, tho last 112 miles In steam launch.
Tho explorers believe they could have gone
fifty miles further II fuel had not run short
They found for over 200 miles extensive
plains which, they think, offer great facili-
ties for pasturage and the growing Of rice
and sugar cane. Tho population, which was
very large near the coast, was sparse In the
interior. Capt. EvERILL, ascending the Fly
River, entered the German territory nearly
QUO miles by the river from the south coast.
Mr.. BEvAN. travelling up the Philip River,
came within twenty-five miles OF the Ger
man border. Tic Germans, ascending the
Empress Augusta, have nearly reached tho
western border of Kaiser Wilhelm's Land,
north Of the rivers that EvERILn and BEvAN
explored. 1t may therefore be said that New
Guinea has been nearly crossed by white
men In its widest part. They kept to the
river courses, however, and their rapid jour
neys afford US only glimpses OF the Interior
Of the great island. There Is little doubt
that the Empress Augusta River rises on the
north side OF the range Of mountains whose
southern slope was nearly reached by Ev-
ER1LL two years ago.
At Finsch Haven, at Samoa Haven, and ut
several other points along their coast the
Germans have reared their little settlements.
Their houses OF wood with corrugated iron
roofs are usually built on little islands near
tho mainland, where they have cleared plan
tations and are planting yams, corn, and to-
bacco. There are over fifty Germans at
Samoa Haven, about 300 miles south OF the
equator. They employ Malay laborers, and
ut lust accounts were making splendid prog
ress in extending their plantations, and re-
garded their agricultural prospects as very
bright. If tho white man can thrive any
where in New Guinea 1t Is along this coast,
the most Of which Is high land, fairly health
full, and exceedingly fertile. 1t Is believed
that no part Of the south coast which La held
by the English Is at all salubrious.
Dr. MIKLUKHo MAcLAY, the Russian OK
plorer, accuses the Germans Of enslaving and
depressing the natives since their arrival on
Maclay coast. The fact seems to be that the
Germans have cultivated friendly relations
with the populous tribes they have met, but
have treated with much severity all who
have persistently opposed them. 1t is to be
regretted that the Germans have seen lit to
lay violent hands upon nearly all the geo
graphical names in the large region OF the
Pacific which they have appropriated. These
places do not yet look familiar on the map
under their new German names, but the
Germans are atoning for this unnecessary
violence by the minute and careful re-
searches they are making along their ex-
tensive coast line.
We may expect before long to hear good
deal about the great Alpine region Of the
southeast peninsula Of New Guinea, many Of
whose peaks rise from 5000 to 1920 feet
above the sea. The CuTHBERTsoN expedition.
which the Government Of Victoria has fitted
out, Is about to climb these mountain
ranges, and it hopes to settle the interesting
question of tho nature Of the elevated lands
OF the interior